Assignment 4- Exercise 4 Visiting Exhibition Spaces
Gillian Morris Student No. 511388
I have researched widely throughout Central Scotland and liaised extensively for possible exhibition spaces which can hold appropriately my large scale, screen printed vintage linen bedsheets. Given my ongoing creative affiliation with Wasps and their significant range of exhibition spaces on offer I focused upon fully researching such provision for the best exhibition options. Wasps (Workshop & Artists Studio Provision Scotland) is a charity that provides affordable studios to support artists, arts organisations, and creative businesses. They currently house over 900 artists and 33 organisations at 20 buildings across Scotland. Since I already regularly use the Artist Studio Complex at Hanson Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow for my large-scale screen-printing processes I was aware of the exhibition space there. I often use the exhibition space to photograph my artwork, so I was fully familiar with its overall dimensions and suitability for larger-scale work. The surroundings are an ideal canvas for textiles with large white walls and high open ceilings for wall hangings and hanging textile work from ceilings. One wall length has large-scale windows which offers a well-lit space with natural light to highlight the textiles on show. Such an exhibition venue is centrally situated and easily accessible as it is in Glasgow with excellent public transport links and car parking facilities with Wasps Staff on site. That said while this is my preferred exhibition space, I have continued to research other options given the demand for such a venue and its regular exhibition timetable involving the public and private sectors especially art colleges and universities alongside Wasps own artists-tenants.
The work and the space feel’s right within Wasps Hanson Street Studios as there are no distracting features or surfaces, the singular focus will be on the artwork. In considering my preference to hang the vintage linen from the ceiling within a central location to create a walkway this will be readily achievable within this exhibition space alongside three large-scale wall-hangings. The screen-printed vintage linen walkway will represent mental repair and recovery through hand stitching while the screen-printed vintage linen wall-hangings will symbolise emotional crisis. The size of the venue is therefore appropriate given its overall scale and layout which suits the scale of the artwork.
All essential amenities and facilities are available on site within the Wasps Hanson Street Studios and all Wasps exhibition sites throughout Scotland. Support for all exhibitions within Wasps premises will be forthcoming including fixings and ladders. I plan to have all the required equipment and materials which are necessary to hang the vintage linen when able to do so. There is excellent lighting to fully display the textile-based work especially considering the scale of natural light. The artwork will be safe given the presence of so many artists on site, the availability of Wasps staff, the secure location, and rules for access. Wasps is responsible for the building including public liability insurance as there is a steady flow of customers in and out of the building, so it is already deemed a public space. The audience will be encouraged to touch the material, to examine and to walk around and through to have a full sense of the screen-printed vintage linen with and without repair-hand stitching. Each Wasps venue is well known and easy to find as Wasps advertise widely their artist’s studio spaces and exhibitions. All necessary signage is already in situ as the venue regularly holds larger-scale art shows, exhibitions, and events which houses larger audiences.
As stated, I have produced professional web-based images, business cards, posters, and postcards to promote the exhibition and for use at the exhibition. I have produced a quality artist statement, one-page curriculum vitae, promotional flyers with related literature including the use of QR Codes to access additional information on an exhibition specific website-blog entry for the wider public and audience to get to know me and my work, to produce added interest in what I am doing and why. I have and will continue to promote the exhibition space and use imagery from creating within the adjacent studio space at Hanson Street Studios to make myself and how I work more known to others through Wasps and my own online presence which will include all relevant exhibition details. I aim to use audio and video to further enhance the meaning of my creative work, to fully communicate what I want it to say so it can be heard, felt, and responded to by the audience.
Continuing Research- Possible Alternative Exhibition Venues- Wasps, The Briggait, Glasgow
The Briggait is a magnificent building which had, except for temporary use, lain empty for the best part of 20 years. Wasps set out to redevelop the building back in 2001 and finally completed the project in late 2009. The Briggait now houses over 5,500m of public and private space including: 45 studios for visual artists, 24 offices for cultural organisations, 4 shop-front units for creative industry companies, a beautiful public courtyard, and two street-front exhibition spaces. A unit is on the River Clyde facing side of the building which has been used for several purpose, most notably as a public café. The Briggait is fully accessible with designated entrance, lift, and all necessary facilities. The stunning 1873 Courtyard, perhaps the most impressive space architecturally, is open to the public daily between 9:30am and 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.
South Block is a stunning 50,000 sq.ft. studio complex in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City/Trongate area. Designed by award-winning architects, NORD, South Block provides 96 studios for Glasgow’s creative community including: 64 studios for visual artists and makers, 25 offices for creative companies, 7 offices for social enterprises working in the cultural sector, Meeting rooms and project spaces available for external hire, public café and a stunning reception area with exhibitions and events space.
WeavePrint 